IS IT DECISION TIME?

DEPENDING ON WHEN you pick up this issue

Apple Vision Pro arrives

Welcome to the era of “spatial computing”

THE BEST TECH FROM CES 2024 LAS VEGAS NEVADA

The Consumer Electronics Show proves there’s more to Las Vegas than the Sphere and casinos. Here are some of the highlights

THE SHIFT

MATT BOLTON is hoping for a look both ways kind of year, where Apple steps into the future, and revives the past…

LETTER OF THE MONTH

I come from the 1985 DTP (desktop publishing)

POWER UP YOUR MAC

Is your Mac running slowly? Do you get the dreaded spinning beach ball every time you try to do something? If so, these tips and tricks are for you

Start up faster

Get up and running in double quick time 

Speed up Finder

Discover some clever ways you can navigate your Mac faster

Work smarter not harder

Make life easier with these advanced tips

Get tricksy with Terminal

Feeling brave? Try these tips and tricks to speed up the way you use your Mac

Speed up your Mac with Shortcuts

Create your own macros for instant Mac joy!

Some other tricks you can try

More handy tips to help speed up your Mac 

40 YEARS OF MAC

Four decades ago, Apple introduced the first Mac to the world. Let’s celebrate the lineup's many hits, and a few misses too

From Macintosh to losing the plot

How the Mac arose from an expensive defeat and changed computing forever

Timeline: 1984–1997

1984-85 Macintosh > The original Mac was a

From iMac to MacBook Pro

In dire need of a revival, Apple soon hit upon a winning streak with the success of the revolutionary first iMac

Timeline: 1998–2012

1998-2003 iMac > An all–in–one computer without a

From the 5K iMac to the MacBook Pro

The end of the Steve Jobs era and the beginning of something even bigger

Timeline: 2013–2023

2013-2019 Mac Pro > Phil Schiller showed off

Access(orize) all areas!

1985-88 LaserWriter > One of the very first

Automate your smart home

Lights, sounds, actions! Discover some great ways to automate your smart devices with help from the Home app

Customize your desktop

HOW TO DO ANYTHING ON YOUR MAC, iPHONE & iPAD

Go further with Messages

Check out the latest features in the Messages app on Mac

Identify people and pets

How to use Photos’ new abilities to recognize individual pets as well as people

Copy better with Paste

Manage your clipboard with more control than ever before

Create countdown calendars

Get regular updates of upcoming events with cool countdown notices

Fight scams and spam

Use Norton Genie to sort real mail from fake imposters on your iPhone

Use double tap on appleWatch

Skip tracks, answer calls and sort through Stacks with just a tap or two

Take websites for a spin

Discover a new way to browse your favorite websites with Web Roulette!

Thunderbolt 5

Thunderbolt 5 had a low–key launch, but it will be key tech for Apple products

TECH SUPPORT & TECHSPLANATIONS

EXPERT ADVICE Our resident genius Howard Oakley solves

Mac Hardware

We’re here to help solve your hardware issues

MACOS

Shine a spotlight on the solutions to your most irritating Mac problems

Mobile Pixels Duex Max 14.1–Inch Portable Laptop Monitor

Enjoy dual–screen convenience on the move!

Edifier S1000W Wireless Bookshelf Speakers

Play all your analog and wireless music

Portal

Transform your desktop

Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2

Wired or wireless listening with tons of options

Asustor Nimbustor 2 Gen 2 AS5402T

The ultimate Time Capsule replacement

Adobe Premiere Elements 2024

Turn your video clips into slickly edited stories

Nomad Stand One Max

Capable, but very expensive, 3–in–1 charger stand

To Hell With The Ugly

It ain’t easy being gorgeous

Best of the best

Can’t find the hardware or app you’re looking for in our reviews section? Then check in here — we’ve highlighted the best in every major category, as voted for by us